The use of a shotgun for the emergency slaughter or euthanasia of large mature pigs.

The isolated heads of a Friesian bull and three large, Large White pigs were shot from various aspects with a 12-gauge shotgun using both a single 28 g solid lead projectile and buckshot, the latter consisting of nine individual lead pellets with a combined mass of 28 g. The sites of impact to the skull included the conventional frontal region, an occipital site and immediately behind the ear. A live mature Large White sow was shot with buckshot in the depression just caudal to the right ear, resulting in immediate insensibility and death. The damage caused to the isolated heads indicated that similar effects could be expected if the heads had been part of intact living animals. It is suggested that buckshot (nine lead pellets with a combined mass of 28 g) fired from a 12-gauge shotgun may be suitable for the emergency slaughter or euthanasia of a wide variety of domestic livestock and other species of animal.

The use of a shotgun for euthanasia of stranded cetaceans.

A 12-gauge shotgun, loaded with either a solid 28 g lead slug or buckshot consisting of nine individual lead pellets with a total mass of 28 g, was used to shoot the heads of one dead common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and five dead long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melaena) varying in length from 2.5 m to 5 m. The dolphin and the smallest pilot whale were shot with both projectiles from the dorsal surface of the head. The projectiles penetrated the head and dorsal surface of the skull, but not the base of the cranium. This site using buckshot was not effective in the larger animals. Two whales between 3 and 4 m in length were shot with buckshot through the lateral side of the head caudal to and above the eye, without penetration of the contralateral side of the head. It is concluded that shooting smaller cetaceans with a shotgun can be effective and safe. Further work is required to develop more suitable projectiles for cetaceans up to the size of mature pilot whales.

Serum methotrexate and human chorionic gonadotropin concentrations during five-day chemotherapy for low-risk metastatic gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

A recent report of serum methotrexate (MTX) levels measured during treatment of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) led us to determine MTX and human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) levels in a patient with low-risk metastatic GTN with a pulmonary metastasis. Peak MTX concentrations exceeded 10(-6) mol/l considered by many investigators to be within the therapeutic range against many human tumors. Serum beta-hCG levels did not decline during MTX administration; however, after 5 days of MTX a steep dose-response curve was observed which continued during 5 courses of chemotherapy.

Aggressive angiomyxoma of the vulva.

An unusual myxoid and vascular appearing neoplasm of the vulva, termed an aggressive angiomyxoma, is described in a 36-year-old Hispanic woman. The clinical presentation and recurrence pattern were typical for previously described neoplasms of the same cellular pattern. The histopathology, difficulties in determining the surgical margins, and the treatment of this tumor are discussed.

Sarcomas of the uterine corpus: prognostic factors and treatment.

Twenty-eight patients with sarcomas of the uterine corpus were followed at least 22 months or until death. All underwent laparotomy, eleven had radiation therapy, and six had chemotherapy. Three year actuarial survival was 24%, and three year actuarial local control was 36%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that, as with sarcomas at other sites, the most important factors influencing survival were grade (P = 0.020) and stage (P = 0.022). For local control, multivariate analysis indicated the most important factors to be stage (P = 0.001) and radiation TDF (P = 0.01). Of 21 failures, 16 involved the pelvis, seven involved the upper abdomen, and 11 involved distant sites. The importance of both local and distant disease control is emphasized.

Presence of human papilloma viral antigens in juvenile multiple laryngeal papilloma.

Juvenile laryngeal papillomas, solitary laryngeal papillomas of the adult, and cylindric cell papillomas of the nose and sinuses were examined for the presence of papillomavirus antigens by means of immunocytochemistry. By using an antiserum capable of recognizing a common group antigen that reacts with papillomavirus antigens of different species, it was found that half of the juvenile laryngeal papillomas studied contained cells staining for papillomavirus antigens. No positive cells were found in adult solitary papillomas or cylindric cell papillomas. These results strongly implicate a human papillomavirus as the causative agent of juvenile multiple laryngeal papillomas.

Splenic pseudosinuses and hepatic angiomatous lesions. Distinctive features of hairy cell leukemia.

In 14 cases of hairy cell leukemia unique vascular lesions not previously reported were observed in surgically resected spleens and hepatic biopsies. In all 14 spleens there were variably prominent distended spaces filled with erythrocytes and resembling dilated sinuses. These structures appeared to be lined by hairy cells,and studies utilizing histochemical and enzymatic methods confirmed that they were in fact pseudosinuses lacking the endothelial cells and ring fibers of normal splenic sinuses. These changes were not present in normal spleens or in spleens involved by other types of chronic leukemia, and appear to be qualitatively specific for hairy cell leukemia. In three of five hepatic biopsies similar angiomatous lesions were present in multifocal clusters resembling hemangiomas. Their pathogenesis may be related to possible adherence of hairy cells to reticulum fibers in involved tissues.